Photography by Michelle So
After studying molecular biology and comparative theology, 2025 Rhodes Scholar Angelin T. Mathew ’25 is dedicated to integrating medicine and spirituality in healthcare—particularly in palliative care, which focuses on improving quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. In a world often defined by clear-cut career paths, Angelin’s journey is a powerful testament to the unpredictability of life and our interests.
At the age of sixteen, Angelin’s best friend, Sophia, was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. As she supported her friend through unimaginable pain, Angelin witnessed firsthand how palliative care could ease suffering and provide comfort beyond medical treatment. “Her palliative care became the most important thing in her life,” Angelin reflected. “And that’s when I first heard about palliative care. It was the first time I truly understood the power of faith in medicine, especially when a priest came to visit her in the hospital and gave her strength in her final months.”
Sophia’s battle with cancer ignited in Angelin an interest in humanizing healthcare. Angelin came to see that the best doctors don’t just cure—they listen, empathize, and contribute to a holistic approach to healing that considers the patient’s emotional and social well-being in addition to their physical health.
This realization became a catalyst, shifting her focus from stem cell research to the humanities early on. “I was working in a lab, but I felt I had to honor this new lesson I had learned from Sophia,” Angelin said. “I transitioned into public health work and started taking philosophy classes. I began analyzing data from the CDC’s database, trying to understand the broader scope of healthcare. It felt like the right move.” Angelin recalled attending a lecture by Marci Shore, a historian of European intellectual history, and feeling a complete change in her perspective on the humanities—philosophy, theology, and intellectual history could eventually shape her vision for the future.
Angelin became a Global Health Scholar at Jackson School of Global Affairs to study the connections between philosophy and medicine, and she founded a startup that sells handmade lip glosses to provide free lip gloss to pediatric cancer patients and their caretakers—a small but meaningful philanthropic act. All proceeds support girls with cancer.
Encouraged by her deepened interests, Angelin took a leap of faith and applied for the Rhodes Scholarship, a prestigious academic honor. Initially hesitant, she submitted her application at the last moment. “It was a shot in the dark, but I submitted it and left the rest to faith,” Angelin said. Her gamble paid off, securing her a full scholarship to attend Oxford University this fall to study theology and deepen her knowledge of palliative care.
Angelin plans to eventually attend medical school and integrate these ideas into her work in healthcare. Her ultimate goal is to raise awareness about palliative care and its vital role in the American healthcare system. She believes that improving the integration of palliative care into primary care starts by having conversations with doctors, and encouraging them to embrace this holistic approach.
Her journey serves as a reminder that life’s unexpected detours can lead us to discover new passions and purpose. As Angelin has learned, sometimes the most transformative experiences come from honoring the lessons you learn and stepping outside your comfort zones, following a new path that feels right in the moment—no matter how uncertain it may seem. For Sophia.